Method and apparatus for making a metallic belt



E. T. LORIG 2,752,670 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A METALLIC BELT July 3, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1952 INVENTOR. EDI W/V 1 09/6 EJ MW hr lHnHHnunW EL'I E. T. LORIG METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A METALLIC B July 3, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13, 1952 a P. I. mm M T fim. W m M METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR -MAKING A METALLIC BELT Application March 13, 1952, Serial No. 276,301 12 Claims. or. 29 107 This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making metallic belts and particularly for making such belts from steel strip. At present there is a large demand for light gage flat stainless steel conveyor belts, but it is difiicult to secure sufficient straightness of the edges to permit proper operation of the belt over conveyor pulleys. The camber in cold rolled strip is often sogreat in the total length required for metal belts that if used for a metal belt in the as rolled condition, the center line of the belt would move in a lateral are even when using centering pulleys of the type shown in my copending applications, Serial No. 97,218, filed June 4, 1949, now Patent No. 2,593,157; Serial No. 138,389, filed January 13, 1950, now Patent No. 2,592,581; and Serial No. 145,648 filed February 23, 1950, now Patent No. 2,593,- 158. For that reason in most instances it is necessary to cut, fit, patch and trim a length or lengths of strip to secure suflicient straightness in the finished belt. This is a tedious and costly procedure and results in the waste of much of the strip. 7

One method of making metallicbelts is disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 271,404, filed February 13, 1952. That method is suitable when the strip from which the belt is made does not have so much camber that the belt cannot be readily centered on the selfcentering pulleys used in such method. However, that method is not suitable in some instances especially when making long belts.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a method of making a metallic belt from a length of cold rolled strip regardless of the amount of camber therein.

Another object is to provide apparatus suitable for carrying out this method.

Still another object is to provide apparatus suitable for marking parallel lines on the side edges of a strip.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the vention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged end view Figure 1; v

Figure 3 is a view taken on the line III- III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line VV of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a plan view and 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates a self-centering roll or pulley of the type disclosed in my copending Patent No. 2,593,158. As best shown in Figure 2, spaced apart spherical bearings 4 are provided for supporting a shaft 6 which forms part of the roll. The shaft 6 has an extension 8 at one end so that it can be driven from any suitable source of power. As more fully described in my copending apparatus of my inof the apparatus 'of of the roll shown in Figures 4 2 Patent No. 2,593,158, pulley 2 is made up of two opposed frusto=conical rolls 10 securely fastened to the shaft -A flange 12 is mounted on the adjacent end of each of the rolls 10 and the outer surface of these flanges are also frusto-conical.

generally by the reference pulley 2 on base mounted in the brackets 20. A two-arm lever 22 is pivotally mounted on bearings 24 supported by the member 18. One arm 26 of the lever 22 is arranged on the transverse center line of the pulley 2 as clearly shown in Figure 2 and the other arm '28 is provided with a handle 30. A compression spring 32 extends between the base 16 and arm 28 and normally holds the arm 26 a short distance from the face of pulley 2. The upper end of the arm 26 is provided with an Opening 34 for receiving a graduated bar 36 which is held in adjusted position by means of a screw 38. A scribe holder 40 on each end of the bar 36 is held in adjusted position by means of a screw 42. A scribe 44 is mounted in each holder 40 and is held in position by means 'of a screw 46.

A second self-centering pulley 48 is mounted in spaced apart relationship from the pulley 2. The pulley 48 is mounted in spherical bearings 50 and is identical with pulley 2 except that no shaft extension 8 is provided. The bearings 50 are mounted on a base 52 with graduations 54 at one end thereof. The opposite end of the base 52 is pivotally mounted at 56 on a subbase 58-. The base 52 has two elongated arcuate slots 60 for receiving bolts 62 which extend upwardly through the sub-base 58-. The sub-base 58 is provided with a stationary pointer 64. When the pointer 64 is at the zero position of scale 54 the pulleys 2 and 48 will be parallel and in exact alignment. The nuts are then tightened on bolts 62 and the nut 66 is drawn tight so as to hold the roll 48 in this adjusted position. If desired, the entire pulley assembly may be mounted for movement toward and away from the pulley 2 in the manner set forth in my above mentioned copending application, Serial No. 271,404, filed February 13, 1952;. j

In making a belt a piece of cold rolled strip S is passed around the pulleys 2 and 48 with its ends held together by means of two strip clamps 68-, onearranged on each side edge of thestri The clamps 68 are adjusted so that the vertical distance AB is the same at each edge of the strip when the clamps 68 are spaced midway betweenpulleys 2 and 48. I The strip S is then run back and forth over the pulleys 2 and 48 until it reaches a stabilized position thereon, The movement of the strip S will be limited so that the clamps 68 will not pass on to "the pulleys, Holes 70 are then punched or otherwise formed in the strip S and a bar 72, having four therein is arranged on the outside of openings 74 over the holes 70. The are parallel to each other. U-bolts 76 are then inserted through the holes 70 and the openin s 74 and nuts 78 threaded thereon to hold the strip ends together. The scribes 40 are arranged apart a dista'n'ce equal-to the desired width of strip and the handle 30 lifted with the help of spring 32 until the scribes slotted openings 74 parallel straight Transversely parallel lines of the strip S immediately and perpendicular to the While one embodimentof my invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for marking two parallel lines can strip Comprising a pair of spaced apart automatic centering pulleys around which the strip passes, said pulleys being arranged in substantial parallelism and in alignment with one another, means for rotating one of said pulleys, and two scribes mounted adjacent one of said pulleys in spaced apart relationship across the face of the pulleys, each of said pulleys including a pair of spaced apart outer strip supporting portions, one on each side of the transverse center of the pulley, and means for positively causing one of the strip supporting portions torotate at the same angularvelocity as the other strip supporting surface, each of said strip supporting surfaces being arranged-to provide a force urging the strip. passing thercover toward the transverse center of the pulley, the total width of the strip supporting portions of at least one of the said pulleys being less than the width of the said strip so that the edges of the strip overhang the strip supporting portions. p 7

2. Apparatus for marking two parallel lines on a strip according to claim 1 including a pivotally mounted two arm lever adjacent one of said pulleys, a bar mounted at the free end of one of said armsand extending across the face of the adjacent pulley, said scribes on said bar one adjacent each end thereof.

3. Apparatus for marking two parallel lines on a strip according to claim 1 including a pivotal mounting for one end of one of said pulleys, and means for moving the and means for mounting other end of said pivotal mounted pulley about said pivotal mounting.

4. Apparatus for marking two parallel lines on a strip according to claim 3 including a pivotally mounted twoarm lever adjacent one of said pulleys, a bar mounted at the free end of one of said arms and extending across the face of the adjacent pulley, and means for mounting said scribes on said bar one adjacent each end thereof.

5. Apparatus for marking two parallel lines on a strip comprising a pair of spaced apart automatic centering pulleys around which the strip passes, said pulleys being arranged in substantial parallelism and in alignment with one another, means for rotating one of said pulleys, two scribes mounted adjacent oneof said pulleys in spaced apart relationship across the face of the pulleys, each of said pulleys comprising two opposed rolls supported at their outer ends only, and an outwardly extending flange on the adjacent end of each roll, the combined width of said flanges being substantially less than the width of the strip.

6. Apparatus for marking two parallel lines on a strip according to claim 5 including a pivotally mounted twoarm lever adjacent one of said pulleys, a bar mounted at the free end of one of said arms and extending across the face of the adjacent pulley, and means for mounting said scribes on said bar one adjacent each end thereof. a

'7. Apparatus for marking two parallel lines ona strip according to claim 5 including a pivotal mounting for one end of one of said pulleys, and means for moving the other end of said pivotal mounted pulley pivotal mounting.

8. Apparatus for marking two parallel lines on a strip according to claim 7 including a pivotally mounted twoarm lever adjacent one of said pulleys, a bar mounted at the free end of one of said arms and extending across the face of the adjacent pulley, and means for mounting said scribes on said bar one adjacent each end thereof.

9. The method of marking two parallel lines on a strip comprising passing the strip around a pair of spaced apart horizontally arranged and aligned automatic centering pulleys, at least one of said'pulleys having a strip supportabout said 1 ing surface of less width than the width of the strip so .thatctheedges of the strip overhang the strip supporting portions, fastening the ends of the strip together with the vertical distance between the top and bottom of the strip at one edge being equal to the vertical distance at the other edge in a plane midway between said pulleys, moving said strip around said pulleys until it reaches a stabilized position on said pulleys, continuing rotation of said strip around said pulleys and holding a scribe against said moving strip adjacent each edge as it passes around one of said pulleys.

10. The method of marking two parallel lines on a strip comprising passing the strip around a pair of spaced apart horizontally arranged and aligned automatic centering pulleys, at least one of said pulleys having a strip supporting surface of less width than the width of the strip so that the edges of the strip overhang the strip supporting portions, fastening the ends of the strip together with adjustable clamps on each edge, adjusting said clamps until the vertical distance between the top and bottom of the strip at one edge is equal to the vertical distance at the other edge in a plane midway between said pulleys, moving said strip around said pulleys until it reaches a stabilized position on said pulleys, forming two spaced apart holes in each end of the strip one adjacent each edge, placing a clamping bar over the adjacent ends ofthe strip and fastening it to said strip by means of bolts passing through said holes and holes in said bar, removing the adjustable clamps, rotating said strip around said pulleys and holding a scribe against said moving strip adjacent each edge as it passes around one of said pulleys.

11. The method of making an endless belt from a length of metal strip which comprises passing the strip around a pair of spaced apart horizontally arranged and aligned automatic centering pulleys, at least one of said pulleys having a strip supporting surface of less width than the width of the strip so that the edges of the strip overhang the strip supporting portions, fastening the ends of the strip together with the vertical distance between the top and bottom of the strip at one edge being equal to the vertical distance at the other edge in a plane midway between said pulleys, moving said strip around said pulleys until it reaches a stabilized position on said pulleys, continuing rotation of said strip around said pulleys, and holding a scribe against said moving strip adjacent each edge as it passes around one of said pulleys to form longitudinal lines thereon, scribing a transverse line adjacent each end of said strip perpendicular to the longitudinal line, cutting the strip along saidlongitudinal and transverse lines, and fastening the ends of the strip together.

12. The method of making an endless belt from a length of metal strip which comprises passing the strip around a pair of spaced apart horizontally arranged and aligned automatic centering pulleys, at least one of said pulleys having a strip supporting surface of less width than the width of the strip so that the edges of the strip overhang the strip supporting portions, fastening the ends of the strip together with adjustable clamps on each'edge, adjusting said clamps until the vertical distance between the top and bottom of the strip at one edge is equal to the vertical distance at the other edge in a plane midway between said pulleys, moving said strip around said pulleys-until it reaches a stabilized position on said pulleys, forming two spaced apart holes in each end of the strip one adjacent each edge, placing a clamping bar over the adjacent ends of the strip and fastening it to said strip by means of bolts passing through said holes and holes in said bar, removing the adjustable clamps, rotating said strip around said pulleys and holding a scribe against said moving strip adjacent each edge as it passes around one of said pulleysv to form longitudinal lines thereon, scribing a transverse line adjacent each end of said strip perpendicular to the longitudinal line, cutting the strip along said 5 6 longitudinal and transverse lines, and fastening the ends 1,955,944 Carter Apr. 24, 1934 of the strip together. 1,965,112 Broadmeyer July 3, 1934 2,008,626 Murakami July 16, 1935 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,02 2 ga gn r C- 5 2,0 6,8 7 er y July 13, 9

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,191,355 Sendzirnir Feb. 20, 1940 121,963 Redford 19, 1871 2,305,730 OBrien et a1 Dec. 22, 1942 302,002 Knapp July 15, 1884 2,355,448 Kratz Aug. 8, 1944 313,639 Wnght 10, 1885 2,363,043 Clark Nov. 21, 1944 380,081 B9Wman 9491211888 10 2,567,049 Belluche Sept. 4, 1951 507,625 Llqdsay 31, 1893 2,593,158 Lorig Apr. 15, 1952 galley 135 2,600,273 Seifried June 10, 1952 a 9 'y 9 1,415,918 Browne May 16, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,530,796 Thornsen Mar. 24, 1925 15 611,896 France July 19, 1926 

1. APPARATUS FOR MARKING TWO PARALLEL LINES ON A STRIP COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED APART AUTOMATIC CENTERING PULLEYS AROUND WHICH THE STRIP PASSES, SAID PULLEYS BEING ARRANGED IN SUBSTANTIAL PARALLELISM AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH ONE ANOTHER, FOR ROTATING ONE OF SAID PULLEYS IN SPACED TWO SCRIBES MOUNTED ADJACENT ONE OF SAID PULLEYS, EACH OF APART RELATIONSHIP ACROSS THE FACE OF THE PULLEYS, EACH OF SAID PULLEYS INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED APART OUTER STRIP SUPPORTING PORTIONS, ONE OF EACH SIDE OF THE TRANSVERSE CENTER OF THE PULLEY, AND MEANS FOR POSITIVELY CAUSING ONE OF THE STRIP SUPPORTING PORTIONS TO ROTATE AT THE SAME ANGULAR VELOCITY AS THE OTHER STRIP SUPPORTING SURFACE, EACH OF SAID STRIP SUPPORTING SURFACES BEING ARRANGED TO PROVIDE A FORCE URGING THE STRIP PASSING THEREOVER TOWARD THE TRANSVERSE CENTER OF THE PULLEY, THE TOTAL WIDETH OF THE STRIP SUPPORTING PORTIONS OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE SAID PULLEYS BEING LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF THE SAID STRIP SO THAT THE EDGES OF THE STRIP OVERHANG THE STRIP SUPPORTING PORTIONS.
 9. THE METHOD OF MARKING TWO PARALLEL LINES ON A STRIP COMPRISING PASSING THE STRIP AROUND A PAIR OF SPACED APART HORIZONTALLY ARRANGED AND ALIGNED AUTOMATIC CENTERING PULLEYS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PULLEYS HAVING A STRIP SUPPORTING SURFACE OF LESS WIDTH THAN THE WIDTH OF THE STRIP SO THAT THE EDGES OF THE STRIP OVERHANG THE STRIP SUPPORTING PORTIONS, FASTENING THE ENDS OF THE STRIP TOGETHER WITH THE VERTICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TOP AND THE BOTTOM OF STRIP AT ONE EDGE BEING EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE AT THE OTHER EDGE IN A PLANE MIDWAY BETWEEN SAID PULLEYS, MOVING SAID STRIP AROUND SAID PULLEYS UNTIL IT REACHES A STABILIZED POSITION ON SAID PULLEYS, CONTINUING ROTATION OF SAID STRIP AROUND SAID PULLEYS AND HOLDING A SCRIBE AGAINST SAID MOVING STRIP ADJACENT EACH EDGE AS IT PASSES AROUND ONE OF SAID PULLEYS. 